Rochester City Council candidates debate development, oil

If his city had an increase in revenue, incumbent Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson would use the funds to pay down future pension liabilities for retirees.“We’ve seen what happens when you don’t take care of that,” Bikson said Monday night at a debate organized by the League of Women Voters Oakland Area featuring all five candidates in the race for City Council.The mayor was referring to the City of Detroit, which filed the nation’s largest Chapter 9 bankruptcy in July with an estimated $9 billion in long-term retiree obligations.“We do have ... pension liabilities out there,” Bikson said to a crowd of 10 inside Rochester council chambers. “To pay those things down would be a great legacy for a current city council to pass on to future city councils.”Newcomer Ann Peterson, a real estate professional, said she would put extra money into “protecting our historical values and our historical assets.”Mayor Pro Tem Jeffrey Cuthbertson had two items on his wish list: an increase to the city’s water fund and park development.“We have over 50 miles of water mains and sewer mains in the city,” he said. “In addition, I think all residents are entitled to very high quality parks... I believe it’s well past time we begin to make a substantive investment in our parks system that brings it up to par with downtown resources we have.”Councilwoman Cathy Daldin said she’d like to see investment in the area underneath the Main Street bridge that crosses the Clinton River, a proposed site for the Clinton River Watershed Council’s first “WaterHub.”The project would connect the area near the riverbank to the city’s downtown.Candidates struck similar tones throughout the hour-long debate, including when moderator Mary Howarth asked their opinion on a recent proposal from two gas and oil exploration companies to lease city-owned property for future development.Rob Ray, another newcomer who sits on the city’s historical commission, said he’s approaching the topic with an open mind.“I would probably not necessarily be in favor of (the agreement),” he said. “But, I would wait to make a final decision until I had that full presentation.”Peterson said she also wanted to wait to issue an opinion on the matter.“I there would pose some possible issues with some type of leak in the future that could really destroy what we have here,” she said, adding she wants to fully understand “how it would actually affect our own current water system.”Cuthbertson said he had reservations, but pointed out that the companies — Traverse City-based Jordan Development Company and West Bay Exploration — will explore leases with private land owners, regardless of whether the city enters into a lease agreement.“I’d rather have the city be engaged in the discussion,” he said. “This is going to happen whether or not the city is engaged ... we’re talking about what’s happening on a horizontal basis, not surface drilling.”Bikson said he was withholding his opinion “until I understand the technical aspects of it.“They say they’re not doing fracking, but I really need to understand that they’re not doing it,” he said.Halfway through the debate, resident Patricia Kane asked the candidates about the city’s economic development, and how they would maintain the small-town feel residents have identified with for years.“Is bigger and more crowded necessarily better for this town?” Kane said. “At what point do we lose who we are... our identity?”Peterson said she felt Rochester has a lost “a lot of that small town, dime-store feel... I do think moving forward we have to maintain a balance with our economic development and some of the green space we have.”Daldin agreed, saying “you need a good mix” both elements.Ray said he’d like to focus downtown development through “creative business growth.”“Development doesn’t really mean 15-story office buildings,” he said, adding that the city should maintain “a commitment to accessibility; not turning downtown into just a big parking lot and a business district per se.”Bikson said he’d continue to support downtown development.Cuthbertson said the city can support downtown development while maintaining its identity. By finishing and passing “the historic district ordinance that has been on the drawing board for a number of months... people who want to voluntarily put the properties in will know... their assets can be protected.”The mayor pro tem said the city has more than $50 million worth of approved projects by the planning commission in the works.“We need to let development happen here that’s appropriate,” Cuthberston said. “I think this is a tremendous opportunity for Rochester to grow, but grow in a way that respects its roots.”Four council seats are up for grabs. The top three vote-getters in the Nov. 5 general election receive four-year terms, while the fourth-place finisher wins a two-year term.

About the Author

Ryan Felton is a staff writer at The Oakland Press who covers Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, transportation and technology. Blogging about Detroit at detroit.jalopnik.com. Reach the author at ryan.felton@oakpress.com
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